Patrick Frase and Stefan Lambert

00:01 Well, good morning everyone. My name is Patrick Frazee. I'm 63 years old. Today's date is Thursday, March 12th, 2020 and I'm located here in Bakersfield California home of the country sound. My interview partner today is mr. Stefan Lambert and I've known Stefan for quite a few years. He's a very good social intellectual friend and he's got some great story today.

00:32 Stefan I'm Stefan Lambert and I'm a very good friend and admirer of This brilliant musician Patrick frase e, my name is Stefan Lambert, and I am the President of the African American Film Association, and I'm 57 years young, but you never know had to look at me and my relationship to Patrick He Is We I'm in Bakersfield, California.

01:04 And my interview partner is Patrick Frazee is today's date is Thursday, March 12th, 2020.

01:14 Very good and this is going to be a great conversation and Stefan you're very unique talented man in. We're going to hit it off right away with us a story and the story of the story. You're a very much involved being coming coming from Southern California and being in the Bakersfield the San Joaquin Valley area, but your roots have been in Southern California and you know that area so well in that's kind of where we're going to go here today and let me ask this certainly because we've talked about this but we can talk about it on why don't we know enough about the the Negro Actors Guild and the AFA and in exactly what that has tell me a little bit about that and your involvement in how you started in in the LA area my friend. It just so happens. That was a professor who's located in Bakersfield, California. And as you mentioned I'm from Los Angeles.

02:11 And this professor

02:14 Take me to Los Angeles where I attended a meeting where there were number of stars that I recognized and this organization is the African American Film Association. It was founded as the new girl actress killed.

02:33 During the

02:36 The. Of the World War II

02:39 Hollywood had a blacklist coincidentally call Blacklist and

02:47 The members of the African American Film Association decided that they would not promote themselves very much because they didn't want to be accused of being communist. None of them were but that didn't stop people sometimes from placing on the backlist. So basically that's why we really don't know about the rich history of the Negro Actors Guild in the African American Film Association, even though they are responsible for Hattie McDaniel receiving Oscar Sidney Poitier Eartha, Kitt, Cab Calloway was a big supporter. So a lot of the people that open the doors for today's actors that are so well-known were members of the Negro Actors Guild and the African American Film Association I hail from the state of Wisconsin even though I'm here in California, and I know the history of

03:47 Fond du Lac Wisconsin and Senator McCarthy and his supposed witch-hunt of the Communist that he thought were in this country. I didn't I guess I did not know maybe you can tell a little bit more the most of the people I ever saw a word with these white man or maybe white woman, but I never realized there were black people that they were trying to hunt down and also accuse here and these are actors and musicians people that you've mentioned what became of those people how did they handle that? How did some of them deal with it? Because of that very question. It really was a love-hate situation African Americans that were good at whatever it is. They did we're oppressed a lot.

04:36 But it was different for the members of the Negro Actors Guild because Hollywood benefited greatly from their influence the music to dance to choreography sure and a lot of lead sheet writers that you know, you've never heard of actually pinned the notes for some of the greatest musicals that came out of United States and Hollywood, so they were appreciated, but they were very much exploited so they didn't want to take a chance.

05:09 On painting the reputation or the influence of the Negro Actors Guild so they more or less kind of became underground like Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad. Okay, but they were very successful. They were very loved. They just didn't get the credit or the recognition and that's why we don't really know about them. Okay. I wanted to talk a little bit about the beginning the origin the sourcing and it comes to mind. The Harlem Renaissance comes to mind is when this whole Phoenix, I guess I could say begin to rise and tell me a little bit about that and how that developed into the people who became well-known.

05:54 Through this organization in through Hollywood and a how did that the dead rise, my friend? I'm so proud of that story is going to be great. We are once it's placed in a few people need to know about it beautiful talented actress by the name of Freddie, Washington.

06:13 Became the founder.

06:15 And Adam Clayton Powell was her brother-in-law very educated African-Americans and during that particular. Then the mid-30s.

06:30 Most of the fury educated black people

06:35 They couldn't be very flamboyant. They couldn't Tudor own horn because it would draw negative attention and they were viewed as a threat. So these these were very humble people. So what happened was they formed and negro Actors Guild actually a year before the Screen Actors Guild. So it's anybody's guess if possibly The Screen Actors Guild and took their cue from the Negro Actors Guild Okay, so

07:10 Once they got together.

07:12 The it started a New York

07:17 They

07:18 Coined the phrase Harlem Renaissance are very successful. They owned a printing shop. They make posters that say Harlem Renaissance. And that's that's how that became a name. Okay. Okay. Let me pull you aside just for a moment being a professional musician. I hasn't had an application for myself. I can picture in my mind and I have it the picture of all the jazz artist outside of this. It's a world-class photo all the Jazz at a sitting outside on the steps. Right? I think there's only one left or maybe he's passed out to I may be wrong but that part of Harlem the musicians and I know that you have some insight into the music side of Harlem tool that you wanted to maybe talk to me a little bit more about on this and then we'll go back to the I want to talk more about the Hollywood scene to but I want to hear a little bit about the music because that to me is fascinating my friend. I'm excited and I'm proud to talk about it and we need to know the story that needs.

08:18 Vetoed going back to the Valley Field days. And where there were white performers that would mimic the dance and the singing styling. They thought they were that young mimicking at 3 F but they would use black face.

08:38 But

08:39 The box office drawing individual we're actually the black people but they too had to put on blackface makeup. So the musicians and singers.

08:58 They they make more money.

09:02 People came from all over the world to hear this black music to see yes black tap dancing choreography cuz they did amazing things. They did gymnastics. They could flip they can jump they could stand on table tops and chairs all of which was duplicated by people like Ginger Rogers Fred Astaire, you do the greats.

09:28 But it came from the black people from Harlem and Hollywood recruited them and brought them out to Hollywood where they would have them teach people like Shirley Temple how to dance but they just never got the credit. They couldn't stay in the same hotels. There was a special place in Hollywood where black people had to stay where they were able to be at a hotel but it really started with the music. Basically. I'm a great fan of Wynton Marsalis and he has major respect for mr. Armstrong and Louis Armstrong Satchmo as he became known was one of the leaders of the music of that era and and one of my other favorites is Cab Calloway Among Us and I know that you have some stories on some of that.

10:28 Give my love to hear that both Louis Armstrong Cab Calloway were actually officers in the Negro Actors Guild and Louis Armstrong was vice president. Okay, they always had to operate kind of behind the scenes. They knew that they had a special gift for special talent. Rhythm was really mathematics. That's why they made such an amazing tap dancers. They invented tap dancing.

11:03 So the music element had not been for the music element. There would be no black Hollywood and most likely we wouldn't see some of the amazing actors like Sissy Tyson Denzel Washington had it not been for people like Hattie McDaniel. It's any party I think about this is so interesting because the music I heard and maybe you can you can collaborate this that Louis Armstrong was quite the behind-the-scenes kind of philanthropist for for the musicians of his area know that gentleman is as far as I know. He was he was chastised. He was brought on the stage entertain people but said get out the back door or use that bathroom when you're gone from your go to that restaurant. You're not allowed to be here anymore. But yet he was a man that game so much back into his world of music. I didn't know so much about that. Maybe you can

12:02 Elaborate elaborate more on that

12:06 As I was told and I was a great student while I was a member before I became the president. Okay, Louis Armstrong was a diplomat and it's been go she ate her and he talks Sammy Davis Junior how to do the same thing. He had the ability to

12:26 Become

12:28 A friend

12:29 To anyone even individuals that Express racial discrimination or treated him and other black artists like they were second-class citizens. He was able to both let it roll off his back but also make the point and let them know that is a act against humanity.

12:53 And

12:55 The gift of music

12:58 Is a healing property? Yes, he was able to communicate that two individuals that probably were only interested in the monetary value. So he taught a lot of people and what they told me was he actually converted people who were very very discriminatory and though some of those people actually came some of the biggest contributors to the African American Artist. So that's interesting. So he was love for that his beloved you've been informed myself and hopefully our audience quite a bit about the music. I want to pull you back into the Negro Actors Guild in Hollywood now in this is this is really important how this whole started growing in in the actors that came in who were some of the people that created these Milestones they help this move forward.

13:53 One of my favorites is Dorothy Dandridge because it just so happens that my sister attended the same high school in Los Angeles this year did Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier. Yes, the first recipient. The first black recipient of Oscar was Hattie McDaniel and that was a direct result of the campaigning gone with the wind chime with the one she really nailed it roll and she too was a negotiator we tend to I mean today we tend to look at people who play a character very well and we kind of think that that's how they are. Well ahead of me Daniel was the perfect example of a businesswoman a business person has even at that time women in general were discriminated against

14:47 She had a way.

14:50 Of endearing people

14:54 Whenever there was an argument this what I heard it I was born. I'm much too young but she was revered but had it not been for the Negro Actors Guild campaign and then negotiating and saying, you know black people contribute a lot to the theater as patrons, but they can't sit on the bottom Rose. They had to sit in the balcony.

15:24 So they convinced the academy at that time, which is much smaller that

15:31 If they acknowledge the gifts and talents of someone like Hattie McDaniel.

15:39 They would profit more and they also negotiate it.

15:45 For some of the theaters to not have the colored only section. That was very slow coming, but that was the result of

15:55 The campaigning with nig ER actress killed and Hattie McDaniel left. It said she led the way and now she received Academy Award. She became a spokesperson and they started taking down those colored only signs because of her, but we don't know anything about that. So that's our job is in that African American Film Association now to bring this to light and he's unsung heroes that yeah. Let me ask a question. I heard this there was an unsung hero who actually was not black American but was a major producer director in Hollywood. Let me hear about that person. I'm so proud of this individual. This is mr. Otto preminger. He was a full-fledged member because the Negro Actors Guild was not exclusive and there were other Caucasian people especially people from Europe in Austria that were members, but

16:55 You know, there's always the talented people the most famous people who are the people that you end up identifying with because the media, you know promoting it. That's the way Hollywood Works sure but this individual

17:09 Otto preminger was so outspoken.

17:13 He was determined to break down stereotypes. So he could have made a fortune very fast by making stereotypical films actors, but he focused on doing things like Carmen Jones.

17:31 And start Harry Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge, and this was a box office hit.

17:39 It was from this movie.

17:42 Where unknown news reporter? I think I'll cat don't remember the newspaper. But this particular reporter.

17:55 Said that

17:58 Carmen Jones made so much money and the actors like Harry Belafonte Dorothy dangerous made so little it was a white individual. He said this was an exploitative film and that's where we got the term black exploitation films. Hope not there was something I learned it was a white and bring that word, but I did not know the origin of it and ran with it. He started kicking up dust in and it is making waves and saying so much money is made.

18:39 With these black actors, he's black performers. It's not right that they aren't paid. It's not right that they can't stay in the same hotels in for that area. I'm definitely put himself out as an advocate that strong. Absolutely. He really went out on a limb and he eventually pulled away from a negro Actors Guild because he didn't want to to taint the progress very good, you know, so yes, very proud of altruistic of him. I think of them just a side by I kind of snickered little bit when you say Otto preminger because I think about him and Eartha Kitt and they were in Batman with Adam West and the rest of the idea. That was so special. He played mr. Freeze played Catwoman.

19:35 It was said it wasn't confirmed that he accompanied Eartha Kitt to the White House. She was the first African American performer to attend a White House dinner.

19:51 Yeah, very good and said she too was outspoken. I would see that he was a strong advocate for African-American rights. You mentioned a couple great actors that I love to this day Mr. Party and mr. Belafonte, but he what he broke. He broke some records that he broke some some Milestones that created some milestones in his life as an actor on amazing man. Such a gentleman such an intelligent man. Tell me a little bit more about the his contribution has a I was growing in Hollywood. How did that personally? I think if anybody

20:45 Was the singular

20:47 Cause of African-Americans being able to portray different roles like a fellow. Yes. I serious. I would say that it was Sidney Poitier because

21:00 He never played.

21:03 A eurocentric stereotypical black person

21:08 He was a man. And you said yourself. He was a gentleman. He was a scholar. He was very well-spoken. He didn't sound nasal.

21:20 He was just intelligent and he expressed himself. So I prepared myself after him. Sometimes I get emotional because when I see Injustice because I've always been a proponent in a fan of people like Marcus Garvey and Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, I think about Sidney Poitier how you was able to make a point without being to meeting without being threatening and that's a challenge because it's such an emotional issue. So Sidney Poitier I think is responsible for

21:56 The success of black actress thank you for that. But I also think of him as that whole time one of the most controversial movies Guess who's coming to dinner yet for that to occur write a white woman and a black man this story coming out of Hollywood. Yeah, it was controversial it was disliked but it was like because it was disliked. It pulled in people like a magnet. It's amazing movie. It is amazing man was just up. I believe you he won an award for that. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes he did. That was a pivotal thing because it addressed the race issue. Yes. It's already on stereotypes. They did an amazing job of representing for instance the character that played Cindy parties father man who worked really hard

22:56 As a postman and sent his son to the best colleges at he could afford an dad always taught them that we're all people but when it came down to the brass tacks, his father was worried because there's so much racial discrimination something might happen to his son if he married a Caucasian woman. Yes, and he had to deal with that plus the man is character Express. If so many brilliant educated beautiful African American women

23:34 And a shortage of black men that could be partners. Why would you choose a Caucasian woman?

23:44 City party is character Express. Sometimes love just happens. Great movie great work side-by-side with beer Richards. Oh, he played his mother. Oh, yes. Yes birthdays. I got a lot of clothes. I got a lot of perks from being a member of the African American Film Association out. Once again being a music lover The Rat Pack Sammy Davis jr. Gentleman for what he did in the entertainment World absolutely thin and as far as I'm concerned, my personal view is he was the greatest of the Rat Pack on me. Now, you might my my hats off to the chairman of the board. Mr. Frank Sinatra, but and Dean Martin, of course, but he was the man. I thought that really pulled it glued together his humor.

24:43 His music how he took some of those words that were thrown at him and turn it into a humorous way and and and then and show people that you know, I can take this. I'm still an Entertainer you're going to love me for it and I'll be half of the ancestors. Thank you. Let me bring you into once again the movie side the film The Academy Awards recently. We're seeing more and more things change and we're seeing more and more a whole different philosophy of the new black actor the New Black actress not fast enough for me, but you're right, but definitely leave and I was unsure about it in some ways just the whole maybe the whole show itself, but I was impressed with some of the ward winners very much some the movies that Harriet was is one of my personal

25:43 That whole Underground Railroad. I learned so much about the more about that too. But how was your feeling now about the Negro Actors Guild? What's what's happening? I'd like to this date. What is it feel like or what was going on there with it? Maybe elaborate on that. I'm so glad you asked. Let me go back just a little bit. I Milestone we Forge a great campaign after being slow down a little bit.

26:14 We started utilizing the digital media.

26:19 And

26:21 We convinced some odd.

26:26 800 different theaters to play Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Cuz what happens is they have a survey among the theater managers.

26:40 Where they can recommend the independent film our film that isn't on that Hollywood a list of a blockbuster. Okay, so we met in the campaign and we contacted by email over 2,000 theater managers with an email blast and recommended Diary of a Mad Black Woman and that was even before we had screened it because after making film Association periodically will screen new films, but we are familiar with Tyler Perry's work. Okay. Alright. So with that campaign

27:20 A good 300 other managers wear black and sight unseen.

27:27 They recommended that they do a screening even if it was for a limited time of Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman and it became a huge hit and now Tyler. Literally has the biggest Motion Picture studio in the United States in Atlanta, Really? Okay, we had something to do with that. So what we're doing now in segueing

27:57 We did a lot of promotion early promotion for black panther. Okay. We were promoting Black Panther.

28:06 Before they changed the the release date cuz they did print it up over a half a million 500,000 posters and then they decided that they were going to release it on that date. Okay. So we're at the Forefront of that and then when they told us that now we have a lot of posters that which which were going to auction off for the African film Association scholarship, which is one of the main reasons why I you know, I was so anxious to come appear here, but you are a fundraising your crazy organization to for its perpetuity Decker number one because there's a lot of talent out there. There's a lot of people that should be directors. There's a lot of people that should be actors and producers but they lacked education like the funding imagine if

28:58 City party wasn't allowed to take acting class.

29:03 Will be deprived of that brilliant talent that that ability to break down barriers to teach to educate as well as entertained. We still got a lot of people out there that can be shining lives, but we have to get behind them. They have to be able to hone their craft and get educated. So that's what we're doing that we really are. You all ready. Maybe answer my question, but let me see elaborate little bit more. I mean your president of the the Negro Actors Guild right? You're looking at your mission you're looking how do we move this forward? Right? What are some of the things we do all organizations non-profit? I know this they're always in constant fundraising mode. I mean, that's the way it is that's part of it at the other part is promotion and in marketing in and all that has to occur ssss continues. What do you see some of the challenges do some of the challenges of of the guild that you see him? Mr. President first and foremost being a

30:03 Negotiator in the world in the war between what portrays African Americans in a positive light and a negative like and what is positive it was negative. So the solution I came up with was to have the African American.

30:23 Film

30:24 Jury committee.

30:28 Where we get a consensus of what we want to see and what we don't want to see and that's going to help Hollywood because Hollywood wants to know what turns us off what insults us or what we want to get behind films like black panther get out Harriet, you know, so that's going to be our main focus, but our top agenda is to be a fundraiser for students so they can attend film school so they can learn how to write produce and direct that's the main focus and we need everybody's help because the world deserves to see the talent of African American actors writers and directors here here you nailed it. I'm going to change you know for a moment into a whole different subject today might my fine folks listening to this. They haven't had a chance to see but Stefan drive with him.

31:23 Some inspiration, which is here some some some.

31:28 Gods goddesses whatever you may want to call them in the music music That's go into this the muses of of Black America black history. And this is Black History Month by the way. Yeah National Black History Month how apropos this is a little bit of that subject was taught to communicate.

31:55 Which is a prayer meditation with the answers and acknowledge them. So even if that energy didn't exist just acknowledging what people represented and the barrels that they turned out they tore down it will trigger something in you. So here's an example.

32:16 Oprah Winfrey Gayle King is controversy. Okay. Now The Whimsy part of it is

32:23 She spoke at a in Los Angeles and we had two of our members who were there and while she was speaking she tripped and she fell sideways. Well, we were taught that when someone is not promoting African Americans in a positive light, especially if they're African-American

32:48 The ancestors don't like it and this was depicted in Black Panther interesting. Okay? Okay, so she took two steps and wash you using these exact words when she said everything needs balance, but sometimes when there's not balanced and then she trips and falls for those of you who watch YouTube if you look at her.

33:14 Good look like she falls forward which is what inertia.

33:19 Nnn

33:21 Gravity dictate. Okay, she falls to the side.

33:27 We feel that.

33:29 It might have been the ancestors that the kind of gave her a shove to get her on the right track. But the music and ancestors were Common Thread with every single meeting of the African American Film Association. So I feel that it's time to talk about some of these things that people might not understand because we get a lot of our talent and our ability from Africa the traditions and the belief and the police that started in Africa. So it's going to be my job is a president that I try to gently incorporate some of those stories. Yes. Let me tell you what I learned on my own personal being a hand drummer also the spirituality moment the drum and we won't even have to go there, but I just want to tell you that I'm educated myself on Zack we're getting

34:29 I know that man is loyal to the end on a note that means something there's some controversies going on out there. There's some issues that you'll personally want to talk about her or bring to the Forefront in and it looked let's hear this some of those today from you, please my friend.

34:47 You may be familiar with the Greenwood District of Tulsa Oklahoma, which is called Black Wall Street.

34:56 At this time, there's a big chasm in separation between our very successful actors musicians and artists and the people

35:10 That actually patronise them.

35:13 There has to be unity and first and foremost African-Americans are Americans. We all benefit from black music from black acting for Black Riders cuz they're all Americans.

35:29 If we come together.

35:32 And patronize the students we pass on.

35:38 It Talent the idea and the philosophy that music is healing acting can change the course of history.

35:48 And these are the Fine Arts.

35:51 And it's a universal language. We just all need to come together. And I think this is a great start by having this type of conversation. Well, this is Stefan the story. This is the story and I want to tell you my friend. I learned something about you today. I've always had respect for you, but I bought now I have a eye I'm making a Joyful Noise for you because I've learned a side of you that in the motion of the Integrity of what you're trying to do here and I believe in you and I learned so much about you today a whole new side and that's what this is about keeping my friendship with you my friend. Is there anything else you want to say? But otherwise I think maybe we might want to just go off and maybe have a cup of coffee. So we have more to talk about but but I shaved my brother cuz we are all brothers and sisters rather accept that or not and entertainment and Fine Arts is the

36:51 Perfect thing to bring us together while mr. Stefan Lambert. Thank you so much some for what you taught me today and in touch with our listeners and really appreciate that my friend and some

37:04 Do good and be well, okay. Thanks.